The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-23
Alderman Bogart's Amendment.

Alderman Bogart's proposed amendment
to the city charter is entitled to very care
full consideration. 1t is intended for a re-
FORM and it is for the people OF the city to
say whether in their opinion it is reform,
aud if so, whether they want it. They are
the ones who are interested, and as it will
come before the Council for its action in
couple of weeks it is time for them to be
thinking about it seriously. 1t is much
better for them to express their views with
regard to it now than TO wait until the Coun-
Gil has acted upon it.
Its aim is to have always in the Council
men who are familiar with the affairs of the
city, and, also, to increase the chances of al
ways having a Council that WILL be devoted
to the city's interests.
There is no doubt that the proposition to
give the Mayor the veto power is good
one. AS a general rule the Mayor can be
depended upon to act in accordance with
the wishes of the majority, and to
do what he believes to be
for the general good Being the head of
the government he naturally feels a greater
degree Of responsibility than an Alderman.
If the government is bad he has to bear the
most Of the blame, and if it is good he gets
the credit. He very naturally exerts him
self, therefore, to give the city a clean,
economical government.
There is another thing to be considered.
1t is that more care is exercised in selecting
a Mayor than an Alderman. The people
want man at the head of municipal affairs
of proved ability and recognized qualifica-
lions for dealing with public matters. There
is not much reason, therefore, for thinking
that anything but good results will come
from clothing the Mayor with the veto
power.
But the proposition to elect only half the
Council every two years ought not to be
adopted hastily. 1t may be good one, but
the people ought to be satisfied that it is be-
fore asserting to it. II is certainly advisable
to have men in the Council who are
thoroughly acquainted with city matters,
but is there not danger that
the six holding-over members might
manage SO as to perpetuate their poweri If
the Mayor were in sympathy with them
they could do pretty much what they pleased
and for four years, at least, they could have
everything their own way. OF course it
would be a rather remarkable state of
affairs if the holding-over six and the Mayor
should agree to burden tho city with debt or
do some other thing obnoxious to public
sentiment, but similar agreements have been
made elsewhere, and they might be made
here
Under the present charter an entirely new
Council is elected every two years, so that if
the people are dissatisfied they do not have
to wait long to put the city in charge of new
men. If the members of the old Council
have proved themselves worthy of public
confidence they all stand a chance of being
reelected. Some of them are generally re-
elected, so that the new Council is not often
without experienced members. OF course the
choosing Of only half the Council every two
years would not lessen election expenses
The cost of electing six Aldermen would be
as great as that of electing twelve.
There is much to be said for and against
Alderman Bogart's proposed amendment,
and those who are interested in the city
should think of it carefully before deciding
| for or against it.